Altering pH

[kjr928]

Ok, I'm not so much a newbie, but I figured I should know this by now, so I'm asking.

How to you raise or lower the pH in your tank? Do you have to use a product or are there alternative methods?

 

[Coler]

You'll probably find people advising you not to do either if at all possible...just keep it stable and your fish will be happier (and you will be) than if you're continually taking a swing and a miss at a specific Ph by adding chemicals

But you could add some crushed coral to your filter to buffer a high Ph, and have the same as subtrate. And I believe Peat Moss filtration and bogwood will have the opposite effect.

If you have a specific reason to raise/lower post it (like you want to keep a certain kind of fish) and I'll bet that people who keep that type will give you great advice. Also, what's your Ph right now ?

 

[ct-death]

Just a quick note on chemical additives: Lowering pH is usually done via Phosphates, and other compounds, but this can lead to other issues...(Algae blooms, etc.)

 

[kjr928]

Well, my pH is ok - it's about 6.8. But I read about people who keep cichlids and other fish that require a high or low pH and I don't really understand how they get it up that high and maintain it. Are they all just using crushed coral or cuttlebond, etc? (FYI - I'm not a big fan of chemicals either).

Also I have snails and their shells tend to deteriorate if the pH isn't high enough (7.0+). My last snail had serious shell issues. Now I have new ones, and I've added chunks of cuttlebone to the tank, but it hasn't seemed to alter the pH. So I was just wondering how people did it.

Also, someday (probably a long time from now) I'd like to try breeding zebra plecos, and I read that to get them to breed you need to have the pH drop to imitate a rainy season.

So I guess there are several reasons I'm asking.

 

[Weezer]

We use crushed coral,about 1.5 inches,we also have some drift wood which tends to lower the ph....ph 7.6 and holding with no additives...:dance2:

 

[Coler]

kj - sorry I'm no good to you

I thought I could offer some newbie advice - you're clearly more advanced than me by a long way; hope you get some good advice

 

[mee-mee]

when we started the tank for our cichlids the requirements for pH was 7.4-8.0 and we had added pH up to make the water more liveable and that was before the drift wood and rocks and crushed coral. now we haven't had to add anything and our tank is at an even 7.8 all the time. the starting pH was 6.7 for the tap we used. we do have a big coral rock with a hole in the middle that might have done the trick. our pH has been no problem for the last month and a half. plus there is alot of slate and quartz and a lava rock in our tank

 

[gvildawg]

You can also use puka shells just as you'd use crushed coral.

 

[Star_Rider]

breeders may use RO/DI units and add the appropriate buffers back into the water.

I am one of those that do not advocate using stuff that lowers or raises ph.

the exception of course is if you need to for breeding purposes.

 

[Mgamer20o0]

breeders may use RO/DI units and add the appropriate buffers back into the water.

I am one of those that do not advocate using stuff that lowers or raises ph.

the exception of course is if you need to for breeding purposes.

i agree.

baking soda would bring it up also.